Keeping Students Safe Online

As teachers who actively use technology to support student learning, it is important to know what legal and ethical issues are tied to our 21st century practice.  In a previous post, I discussed the 2 policies currently in place in the DSBN.  They are centred around digital technology use in schools both by teachers and students.  But what role do we as educators have in actually teaching safe and proper use?  I personally believe that if we use it, we ought to teach it.  And even if we don't use it in the classroom (why you wouldn't be would be using it is a whole other topic!), the majority of our students are plugged in and connected elsewhere.  Therefore, I have come up with a couple of my own ideas about what students should understand with regards to internet use:

Primary/Junior or "Internet to Play"

• Do NOT share personal information online (name, phone number, address etc.)
• Talk to your parents/teacher about your online activity - it is important to be open and honest in order to stay safe
• Follow school/home rules when using technology - use only sites/programs/apps that you have permission to use
• Edutopia has a lesson plan for teaching internet safety to younger children

Intermediate/Senior (Same rules as above PLUS) or "Internet to Interact"

• Commit to ethical online use
• Do not engage in cyberbullying acts (spreading gossip, posting inappropriate or private information about others etc)
• Only post information that you are comfortable having the whole world know about yourself - don't forget to think long-term (future employers etc)
• How to protect your information and computer (security tools, viruses, spyware, spam)
• Recognize that they are in charge of their digital footprint and their online presence

Here are some resources for teaching online safety:
NetSmartzKids - games/videos for primary aged children
WoogiWorld - uses interactive missions to teach students about online safety
ATT - help Captain Broadband keep the community safe

Parents!
Want to know what your child is using?  Check out this great list of games, apps, and social networking sites for a quick synopsis, FAQs, and more to stay informed with online trends.


Still looking for more information about online safety?  Check out ESchoolNews where you will find an excellent article about 10 Ways Schools are Teaching Internet Safety. 

So what do you think?  How is the world that our little "digital citizens" live in going to influence them and what safety measures do they need to be aware of?  And who has to teach them???